How to create a Christmas Candle using the new 2020 Christmas moulds by Design Team member Cheryl Sanderson

In this step-by-step picture tutorial, Craft Design Team member Cheryl Sanderson will show you how to create a Christmas candle with embellishments using the new 2020 Christmas moulds! This homemade craft would look fantastic displayed in your home during the festive season, or to gift to a loved one!

Here's how to do it!

Step 1 - what you'll need:

• A Jug to melt wax in, stood in a pan of water (its not safe to directly heat wax without it being in a bain marie)
• A thermometer
• Fragrance oil suitable for wax
• Candle glass
• Sticky tab to stick wick to base of glass
• Candle wick
• Wick centering tool. You can improvise using a pencil and blu tack
• Wax suitable for candles in containers and oil based dye

Step 2 - Get your candle glass prepared to pour the candle as show above.

Step 3 - Pouring the wax to make your candle.

• Heat the wax and dye according to supplier instructions.
• Cool, add dye and pour. These temperatures vary for different waxes.
• Remove any air bubbles by popping them with a skewer. Leave to cool and set before removing the wick centering tool.

Step 4 - the Katy Sue Designs moulds and hearty air drying paper clay you need for your decorations.

Shop now:
Polar Bear Family Mould
Penguin Family Mould
Icicles Mould
Hearty Air Drying Clay - Blue
Hearty Air Drying Clay - White

Step 5 - how to make the decorations.
Note from Cheryl: I have mixed the blue and white clay to make a pale blue, you need very little coloured clay as it is highly pigmented. The new packs of clay can be a little sticky to work with so leave it to dry a minute or two before using, as shown bottom right.

• Fill the moulds as shown. Make sure the clay is pulled away from the edges
• of the mould as shown in the small bear in the mould top left.
• To remove the clay, give the mould a wiggle until the clay shape comes loose and comes out of the mould easily. If it stretches, leave to dry a short while and then try again.
• Once removed from the moulds, leave your clay pieces to dry on kitchen paper before decorating with water based paints or inks.
• If you want the pieces to dry on a curve or round the corner of the glass, leave the clay to dry over the item you plan to adhere it to. I have shown this in step six.

Step 6 - an example of how the clay looks after it has been dried around the glass. Drying over the item it will be adhered to makes it easier to adhere.

Step 7 - how to stick your clay shapes onto the candle glass.

• Apply your silicone adhesive directly to the back of the clay shape to adhere it to the glass.

Steps 8-10 - repeat step 7 with each of your clay shapes that you've made and adhere them to the candle glass.

You now have a finished homemade candle with clay decorations! Perfect for displaying in your home or to gift to a friend!